The New Face of Renewable Energy
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Not pictured:Marv Bauer (FR): Quantifying the full carbon budget of a suburban landscape by simultaneously measuring changes in carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide using satellite-based maps of the landscape and GIS databases of traffic counts and natural gas usage.
Paul Bolstad (FR): Inventorying forest biomass in the Great Lakes region and central Norway using airborne remote-sensing systems.
Paul Chen (BBE): Investigating the feasibility of using a variety of techniques to convert swine manure into biofuels and biohydrogen; using nonthermal plasma technology to develop and demonstrate the scalable and efficient synthesis of ammonia from renewable hydrogen; and developing sustainable systems for practical use of bulky biomass.
Greg Cuomo (CFANS): Testing the prototype of a system that converts wind power to fertilizer.
Dean Current (FR): Preparing guidelines for sustainably harvesting forest residues and estimating costs of moving biomass for processing; determining the availability of forest biomass for use in bioenergy; developing an efficient system for producing and delivering biomass feedstock; and evaluating nitrogen-fixing Alnus and Salix germplasm for biofuel use.
Anthony D’Amato (FR): Determining the availability of forest biomass for use in bioenergy and fuels applications in Minnesota.
Vern Eidman (APEC): Preparing a thorough assessment of the barriers to and impacts of producing liquid fuel from lignocellulosic biomass; determining a clear methodology for the full-cost accounting of energy use; and economic and environmental implications of coal/biomass fired ethanol plants.
Lee Frelich (FR): Preparing guidelines for the sustainable harvest of forest residues and creating a model for estimating cost and energy expenditures for moving biomass for processing.
Jason Hill (APEC): Assessing the effects of the expanding global biofuels industry on climate change, land use, biodiversity and human health.
Stan Hokanson (HORT): Evaluating nitrogen- fixing Alnus and Salix germplasm for potential biofuel use.
Gregg Johnson (SROC): Assessing the environmental and economic impacts of herbaceous and woody plants for their potential yields of biomass, fiber and fermentable sugars; and evaluating production of bioenergy and bioproducts from alfalfa and willow.
Vance Morey (BBE): Evaluating systems for collecting, processing, densifying and delivering herbaceous biomass material to users; and evaluating and addressing economic and technical issues related to electricity generation at ethanol-producing plants.
Jim Orf (APG): Using genomics to increase the oil yield in soybeans for biodiesel.
Steve Polasky (APEC): Preparing a thorough assessment of barriers to and environmental impacts of producing liquid fuel from lignocellulosic biomass; full-cost accounting of energy use; and conducting interdisciplinary research, education and outreach activities related to terrestrial carbon sequestration.
Ford Runge (APEC): Evaluating the economic and environmental effects of renewable energy policy.
Steve Taff (APEC): Investigating the policy and economic implications of implementing a low carbon fuel standard in Minnesota and selecting and calibrating an appropriate life cycle assessment model; and finding sustainable pathways to achieving policy goals on biofuels.
Joel Tallaksen (WCROC): Collaborating with a diverse public/private team in assessing and evaluating the utilization of corn cobs in biomass gasification systems.
Don Wyse (APG): Assessing environmental impacts, conducting economic analyses and characterizing a diverse set of herbaceous and woody plants for their potential yields of biomass, fiber and fermentable sugars at two locations in Minnesota.
Jun Zhu (SROC): Investigating the impact of mixing grain straws and corn stover with liquid swine manure for producing methane in an anaerobic digestion process; investigating the feasibility of converting swine manure into biofuels and biohydrogen; and transforming biogas produced from anaerobic digestion of dairy manure to clean hydrogen fuel for use in rural communities.
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Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics (APG)
Department of Animal Science (ANSCI)
Department of Applied Economics (APEC)
Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering (BBE)
Department of Forest Resources (FR)
Department of Horticultural Science (HORT)
Department of Soil, Water, and Climate (SWC)